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The first action of the game came in the third minute when a Michael Burns corner was headed away at the near-post by a City defender, the ball then hitting Grant Smith full in the chops before going out for a goal-kick. Carlisle were given a taster of what was to come four minutes later though as the visitors took the lead.
Jack Redshaw, from a Kingsley Grandison pass, chipping an exquisite right-footed finish, in the manner of a pitching wedge, over the top of stranded Blues goalkeeper Chris Howarth from no more than 15 yards out. Andrew Mitchell then being the provider for City on eleven minutes but his cross in from the right was only headed weakly at Howarth by John Guidetti parked on the United penalty spot.
Rothery, who impressed a little on the left, having Carlisle's first shot at goal shortly afterwards when he fired a right-footed 22-yarder over the top. In the 14th minute Scott Dobie, after a Michael Bridges pass, was unable to find the finish of Redshaw from a similar position as his effort drifted across goal and wide of City goalkeeper Greg Hartley's far-post.
Burns then looking to get on the Carlisle scoresheet three minutes later only to hit his left-footed 20-yard half-volley wide of the target. Burns again, two minutes on, feeding a quick free-kick to Rothery down the left which saw the former Leeds man cross into the box for a Bridges right-footed volley from 12 yards out which was an easy one for Hartley to take.
With 22 minutes on the clock, Gary Madine, from a Lakeland pass, saw his 15-yard right-footed shot on the turn blocked out for a corner by Sean Tse. The resultant Burns flag-kick prompting a bout of pinball before Smith dollied the softest of half-volleys into the arms of Hartley from 15 yards out at the back-stick.
Hartley producing a save for the cameras after 28 minutes when he made a meal of diving to take Dobie's ten-yard header following Lakeland's cross in from the right. Bridges then trying his luck just after the half-hour mark as, picking up on a loose ball, he fired a 22-yard right-footed half-volley inches over the City crossbar.
After 33 minutes Burns stuck a free-kick in from 35 yards out which Madine, just beyond the City penalty spot, headed over the top. City though coming back three minutes later with a Guidetti right-footed shot from the right-angle of the Carlisle area that only produced an easy save for Howarth. Redshaw, in the 40th minute, then setting up Grandison down the right-hand channel for a 20-yard side-footer which Grandison wasted as he blazed well over.
The last action of the half putting the Citizens 2-0 up at the break a minute into injury time. Redshaw touching possession off first to Guidetti in the United centre-circle, before being able to race clear as the ball came back to him and Aldred, Guidetti and Smith all fell over each other. Redshaw showing all his finishing ability as he charged in on goal before a crunching a right-footed 20-yarder across Howarth and into the far corner of the Carlisle net.
The first chance after the interval came the way of the Blues on 48 minutes when Rothery's ball in from the left was missed by Tse only for Madine to hit his right-footed 12-yard effort straight into the midriff of Dobie, City skipper Aaron Carter then hoofing the ball to safety. Three minutes later up the other end, after Jeremy Helan's left-wing cross was headed away by Aldred, Mitchell smacked the loose ball over the top right-footed from 25 yards out as City pressed again.
Shortly afterwards Guidetti shot well over with his right boot from just outside the Carlisle penalty area, then on 53 minutes in a busy spell in the game, Guidetti was in the thick of the action again, this time, from a Mitchell pass down the right, thumping a 20-yard right-footed half-volley wide of Howarth's near-post.
United were back at it moments later though when Madine, on the left-angle of the City penalty area, curled a right-footer straight into the arms of Hartley. The visiting goalkeeper couldn't get himself out of a jam in the 55th minute though when a ball through from Bridges sent Dobie racing down the middle. Dobie getting to the pass before Hartley inside the Citizens 'D' as he tapped it beyond the glovesman and then knocked it right-footed into an empty net from 12 yards out.
Before the kick-off Alex Mitchell became the only substitute in the game as he replaced Howarth in the United goal. With 58 minutes gone Carlisle should have found an equaliser when Chris Lumsdon hit a lovely pass over the top which Madine should really have done better with, the Blues youngster was crowded out though and, after a goalmouth scramble, the same happened to the supporting Bridges as Hartley was able to dive on the loose ball.
Lumsdon did turn provider for a goal straight from there though as his awful pass at the back went straight to the predatory Redshaw. The City 17-year old not needing asking twice as he charged on in the clear for his hat-trick, his right-footed shot from 15 yards out going in despite a valiant attempt at a save from Alex Mitchell. From a potential 2-2 to 3-1 down in the space of 30 seconds it was the real turning point in the match as the game was now gone for United.
Just before the hour-mark Andrew Mitchell and Redshaw were combining again, Mitchell this time, from a Redshaw pass, slicing a right-footed 20-yarder well wide of the Cumbrians far-post. Redshaw getting his own shot in after 63 minutes when, from the left-angle of the United penalty area, he curled a right-footed shot across goal and inches wide of Alex Mitchell's back-stick.
With 68 minutes gone Alex Mitchell fumbled a 20-yard right-footed drive by Guidetti out for a corner, Smith though on hand to head away the resultant Andrew Mitchell flag-kick for City. Moments later, from a Grandison corner, the smallest player on the pitch, in Redshaw, heading over the top from eight yards out at the Carlisle far-post.
Redshaw was brought down 25 yards out in the middle by Smith on 74 minutes, the tiny striker this time failing to really test Alex Mitchell as he dusted himself down to hit the free-kick weakly right-footed straight at the Blues goalkeeper. Two minutes later, from a Guidetti pass, Andrew Mitchell smashing an 18-yard drive with his right boot at pace just past the United back-stick.
Saving his best for last in the 77th minute Redshaw, fully 28 yards out, set himself up for a right-footed half-volley which he screamed beyond the reach of Alex Mitchell as it swerved away and flew into the United net off the inside of the left-hand post down at the Waterworks End. That being Redshaw's eighth goal against the Cumbrians on second-string duty this season.
Six minutes from the end Dobie was trying to grab his second goal of the game but his 20-yard right-footed effort was deflected out off Omar Elbadellaoui for a corner, the resultant Burns flag-kick producing nothing. Two minutes later and Bridges and Burns played a neat one-two together but Bridges could only shoot tamely right-footed straight at Hartley from just outside the City 'D'.
After 87 minutes a tiring Lakeland fouled Redshaw on the left-angle of the Carlisle penalty box, Redshaw, looking for his fifth goal of the afternoon, seeing his right-footed shot from the set-piece deflect away off the United defensive wall. The last action of the match coming in the opening minute of the three minutes of injury time that was played.
Tse getting the only booking of the game as he brought down Madine 25 yards out in the middle. The right-footed free-kick from Bridges then going straight into the Citizens wall before falling to Lakeland who could only slice a right-footed 15-yard drive well wide. So, a disappointing day for Carlisle, but the visitors have some excellent youngsters coming through, especially Redshaw, whether or not they will ever play for the first team now though in the new financial era at City is another question.
United line-up :
Chris Howarth (Alex Mitchell 56), Simon Lakeland, Jonny Blake, Tom Aldred, Grant Smith, Chris Lumsdon, Scott Dobie, Michael Burns, Gary Madine, Michael Bridges (c), Gavin Rothery.
Unused substitutes :
Kevin Gall, Luke Joyce, Andy Cook and Conor Tinnion.
Manchester City line-up :
Greg Hartley, Thomas Smith, Aaron Carter (c), Omar Elabdellaoui, Sean Tse, Igor Paldan, Kingsley Grandison, Andrew Mitchell, Jack Redshaw, John Guidetti, Jeremy Helan.
Unused substitutes :
Eirik Johansen (GK), Craig Frater, James Paris, Peter Varga and Tasos Kapsalopodas.
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